National Park Garajonay & the North
Roundtrip through the Garajonay National Park
Google Maps, 106 km, 6 hours with breaks
Around and partly through the middle of the Garajonay National Park goes this tour. Extensive views and the enchanting cloud forest provide lasting impressions of the green lung of La Gomera. The ride starts and ends in San Sebastián. But before that, you will visit other places in La Gomera North: Vallehermoso, El Cedro and Hermigua. In between, there is the opportunity to leave the car at Alto de Contadero and take a short hike. Various viewpoints offer further opportunities for a stop. The tour through the national park offers no possibility for a short cut. Time can only be reduced by refraining from sticking to one point or another. Of course you can start the tour from any other point on the island.
If you come with the cruise ship it would be a good idea to do this trip with a local guide to ensure being back in time.
1. San Sebastián de La Gomera, Santa Cruz de Tenerife - Starting point of the tour
2. Agulo
is located in the north of La Gomera. Every year on the 25th of April the Fiesta in honor of Saint Mark takes place, during which the young men of the village in front of the church of San Marco jump over blazing fires and thus prove their courage and their skill. The rest of the year you will find especially in the district La Montañet in the various bars and shops entertainment. In contrast, beautiful houses with courtyards and shingled roofs can be found in Las Casas.
3. Vallehermoso
On the TF-711 leave Agulo in the direction of Vallehermoso. Through deep ravines, the road winds its way up, and from afar, the sight of the mighty Roque Cano, which towers over Vallehermoso, announces the destination of the first stage. Vallehermoso is the center of La Gomera's northwest. The highlight of this picturesque village, located in a fertile valley, is undoubtedly the church of San Juan Bautista.
4. Alto de Garajonay
Leave Vallehermoso on the TF-713 towards San Sebastián and climb slowly up the mountains from the valley of Vallehermoso. After numerous turns, you finally dive into the cloud forest of the Garajonay National Park. Especially at the beginning, the trees incline like a roof over the road and leave only a small strip of blue sky - if it is not covered by low-hanging fog. The next destination is the car park at Alto de Contadero, on the left-hand side. Here you can either hike up to the Alto de Garajonay, the highest mountain of La Gomera, within three quarters of an hour or you can venture down the El Cedro to Hermigua. The latter, however, would go beyond the scope of the car tour. Another alternative would be another hike that goes through the National Park and begins a one-kilometer walk south of Pajarito.
5. Mirador de Tajaque
From the car park continue towards San Sebastián. The next stop of the tour is the Mirador de Tajaque. Leave the car in the car park and go up the 30-meter-long staircase to the viewpoint, which offers a magnificent panoramic view - in good weather you can see in the distance the towering Teide on Tenerife.
6. Mirador Roque de Ojila The soon following branch to Hermigua is ignored first and go right. Shortly after, you come across the Mirador Roque de Ojila, the destination of this stage.
7. El Cedro
From the vantage point you drive back to the junction for Hermigua, which you take now. After a few minutes, a small road branches off to El Cedro on the left. The small, partly deserted village lies in the middle of the greek cloud forest. Nevertheless, you will find here a bar and the only public campsite on the island. El Cedro is also the starting point of numerous hiking trails.
8. Mirador de El Bailadero
From the detour to El Cedro you return to the road to Hermigua. Shortly after returning to this street you have to leave the car again. From here, take a right down a staircase to the Mirador de El Bailadero, which offers a wonderful view of the rock formation Los Roques.
9. Mirador de El Rejo
1 kilometer ahead, the Mirador de El Rejo, on the left-hand side of the road, offers views of the Hermigua Valley.
9. Hermigua
This is already the next goal of the tour. For this purpose, turn left, almost at the end of the forest, on the TF-711. On this you drive down into the valley of Hermigua, characterized by banana plantations. Through the various hamlets you soon reach Hermigua. Here you can visit, among other things, the Gofio Museum or visit the church of La Encarnación.
10. San Sebastian follow the GM1 back to the harbor of San Sebastian
The South
Trip: 1. San Sebastián , 2. Alajeró 3. Drago de Agalán, 4. Mirador de Tajaque, 5. Mirador Roque de Ojila,
6. Mirador Degollada de Peraza, 7. Benchijigua, 7.1 (Playa de Santiago) 8. San Sebastián
Google Maps, 108 km, 169 min, without Playa de Santiago 86.9 km 141 min
ALAJERO about 12 km from Playa de Santiago, Playa de Santiago (belonging to Alajeró) is the economical center of the south and Alajeró is the administrative center. To see: a renovated parish church which originates from the original 16th-century church of San Salvador. Alajeró is a starting point for a hike to Roque Calvario from which one can overlook large parts of the south La Gomeras. The hike takes about 1 hour. Carry on on the Carretera, driving through a arid, barren landscape where only spurge, cacti and agave grow.
Drago de Agalán - behind the Cruce del Imada is a parking lot on the left side, stop if you want to walk for an hour to see the 400 years old Drago de Agalán, the only not standing in a park or garden.
Continue from here to the north. Turn right onto the TF-713 towards San Sebastián, drive along the southern boundary of the Garajonay National Park. The next stop of the tour is the Mirador de Tajaque. Leave the car in the car park and go up the 30-meter-long staircase to the viewpoint, which offers a magnificent panoramic view - in good weather you can see in the distance the Pico del Teide on Tenerife.
Now you drive on to the east. Behind the detour to Hermigua, which you do not take, is the Mirador Roque de Ojila, which opens up a great view.
The way leaves the woods and allows for a broad view over a mountain range, remain on the TF-713. Shortly afterwards you come to the restaurant Peraza. There is also a bus stop and a car park. A few steps further east, the Mirador Degollada de Peraza offers a deep insight into the Barranco de las Lajas.
Benchijigua
is a palm-rich nature reserve of Benchijigua. On this you can climb up to the Roque de Agando.
